Henry Cejudo took a step back from MMA while still at the pinnacle of his career. He had just defended his UFC bantamweight title with a second-round stoppage of Dominick Cruz, cementing his status as a two-division UFC champion and an Olympic gold medalist—an accomplishment that earned him the nickname “Triple C.” Instead of pushing forward, he opted for a sabbatical, leaving the sport on his own terms.
When he returned nearly three years later, he went straight into a bantamweight title fight against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288, seeking to reclaim the gold he had never lost in competition. However, his comeback didn’t go as planned, as he fell short in a razor-close split decision. His next fight against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298 resulted in another setback, with an even clearer loss.
“F***, it’s a chip on my shoulder,” Cejudo admitted. “Nobody wants to make ‘the greatest comeback of all time’ and start 0-2, but that’s the nature of the game. There’s always a 50 percent chance you lose in this sport, and it’s humbling. It brings out all kinds of emotions, but at the same time, it’s motivating.”
Now, at 38, Cejudo is using those disappointments as fuel for his main event fight this Saturday against Song Yadong at UFC Seattle. This fight is crucial—not just in the rankings, but in determining whether the former champion still belongs among the division’s elite.
A Career-Defining Moment
For Cejudo, this isn’t just about getting back into the win column. It’s about assessing his place in the sport and whether he wants to continue stepping into the Octagon.
“Nobody wants to keep losing,” Cejudo said with a smirk. “But sometimes failure is a signal that it’s time to move on. I’m not one of those guys who’s going to hang on forever—I’m not a jealous ex-girlfriend. I’ve done some amazing things in combat sports, but where I am right now? It’s bittersweet.”
Acknowledging the pressure, Cejudo knows how much this fight means.
“Everything is at stake, man,” he emphasized. “Every fight is important because people remember you by your last performance. How did you look? How did you feel? Was your heart still in it? It doesn’t matter how great training camp went—you have to show it in the Octagon.”
While Cejudo contemplates his future, he remains confident in his abilities. Despite the losses, he still sees himself as one of the greatest combat sports athletes ever.
“I never thought I’d be competing this late in my career, but I’m grateful. You keep going until you fall out of love with it or your body falls out. I’m thankful to be headlining against a top guy like Song.”
The Fight Ahead: Song Yadong and the Stakes Involved
If Cejudo sounds like a man contemplating retirement, he also sounds like a competitor who refuses to go out on a losing streak. He’s always been his toughest critic, meticulously analyzing his performances. He knows that how he feels in training doesn’t always translate to fight night.
“One hundred percent, I believe I can still fight for a title,” Cejudo said. “But talking is easy—backing it up is what counts. I hold myself accountable. I critique fighters on my channel, but I’m also my biggest critic. That honesty has made me successful, and that’s the mindset I have for this fight.”
His opponent, Song Yadong, isn’t coming into this fight without his own motivation. A rising force in the division, Song has been a staple of the bantamweight Top 15 for years. However, he stumbled in his first two major tests against Cory Sandhagen and former champion Petr Yan. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, he ultimately fell short against both elite competitors.
For Song, this fight is his chance to break through into title contention. For Cejudo, it’s about proving that he still belongs among the best.
“I like the fact that my back is against the wall,” Cejudo said. “He probably feels the same way after losing to Yan. Song is dangerous—he’s got power, he’s a counterpuncher, and he’s put away some tough guys. Power is always dangerous, but it can also be risky. When you go all-in on big shots, you leave openings.”
Cejudo respects Song’s skills but believes there’s a difference between training and actually fighting at the highest level.
“He’s 27, in a great camp with Urijah Faber, but it’s different when you’re in there against someone like me. Is he the real deal? 100 percent. He’s a scary dude, built like a tank.”
The Road to Redemption
It’s a strange reality that a former two-division champion and Olympic gold medalist could be facing a career crossroads after just two fights back, but that’s exactly where Cejudo finds himself.
His triumphant return hasn’t yielded a single victory yet, and now he faces a younger, surging contender determined to make his own mark. Cejudo knows he has to deliver, not just for the fans, but for himself.
When asked about how it would feel to win, he was already thinking ahead.
“It’s gonna feel good, but the job’s not done,” he said. “There’s a quote from Tom Brady—when they asked him which Super Bowl win was his favorite, he said, ‘the next one.’ I’m not looking past Song, not at all. That dude can put anyone out if they’re not careful. But I believe in my skills, and after this, it’s on to the next one. This is my last shot at going for the title—it’s all or nothing.”
And as for what’s next? Cejudo isn’t ruling anything out.
“I want a fight that puts me right back in the title conversation. And don’t forget, I reigned over two divisions. I’m not ruling out 125 pounds, either. But first, I need this win. Then, it’s all about consistency—get the W, take some time with the family, then get right back to work.”
Don’t miss a moment of UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song, live from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, on February 22, 2025. The prelims kick off at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT, with the main card airing live on ESPN+ at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT.